Chapter 1: The Return
The evening sun cast long shadows across the bustling streets of india , where hunters of every rank moved with purpose and power. Alakshya walked through the crowded marketplace, his weathered hands buried deep in his coat pockets, his face bearing the weight of countless burdens. To any passerby, he appeared to be just another ordinary citizen in a world dominated by the extraordinary.
"Rudra, I need money as quickly as possible," Alakshya muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible above the street noise.
A passerby glanced at him oddly, assuming he was talking to himself. Little did they know that within the depths of his shadow, ancient eyes were watching, listening.
"Yes, you're correct. I need it for Vishu's school fees," Alakshya continued, his voice heavy with concern. "And in this hunters' world, it's nearly impossible to collect such amounts through ordinary means."
His shadow seemed to ripple slightly, as if responding to his words. Alakshya's jaw tightened as he shook his head.
"You know I can't join them back. I've left that work, and you know exactly why," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper that carried pain deeper than any physical wound.
As he walked past a memorial statue dedicated to fallen hunters, memories crashed over him like a devastating tide. The world around him seemed to fade as he was pulled into the depths of his past.
Five years ago...
The battlefield was a symphony of chaos. Alakshya moved through the carnage like death incarnated, his shadow army flowing around him like liquid darkness. Dozens of S-rank beasts fell before his might, their roars silencing one by one until only his breathing remained. He stood victorious, the strongest among the six Rulers, his power absolute and his confidence unshakeable.
But the memory shifted, twisting into something far more cruel.
Blood. So much blood.
Alakshya found himself on his knees, tears streaming down his face as he cradled a lifeless body in his arms. His best friend's eyes, once filled with laughter and determination, now stared sightlessly at the sky.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, brother," he had whispered, his voice breaking with each word.
The scene changed again, showing him a small boy with bright eyes and an infectious smile. Vishu, barely ten years old, running toward him with arms outstretched, calling him "Big Brother Alakshya" with pure joy. The child had become his anchor, his reason to continue existing when everything else felt meaningless.
But now, even that light was threatened.
Present day...
Alakshya's eyes snapped back to reality as he imagined Vishu's crestfallen expression from their conversation just yesterday.
"Big Brother, the school says they'll remove me if we don't pay the fees soon," Vishu had said, trying to hide his disappointment behind a brave smile. "I've been behind on payments for three months now."
The memory of that conversation pierced Alakshya's heart like a blade. "I want to give Vishu a good life," he whispered to his shadow companion. "After that dark day, he was the only one who brought joy back into my existence. I guess I have no other choice—I have to go back there."
His shadow rippled again, and Alakshya nodded grimly. "Yes, I know. I'll keep my identity and true powers secret. No one can know who I really am."
The Hunter's Training Association building loomed before him like a monument to his past glories and failures. Its crystalline walls reflected the late afternoon light, and the familiar scent of magical energy permeated the air. Alakshya stood at the entrance, his hands trembling slightly.
"I never thought I would return here again," he murmured, steeling himself before stepping through the automated doors.
The interior was exactly as he remembered—polished marble floors, holographic displays showing hunter rankings and recent achievements, and the constant hum of magical activity. Young hunters moved about with purpose, their eyes bright with ambition and dreams of greatness.
At the reception counter, Alakshya filled out the teacher's application form with careful precision. Each question felt like a small betrayal of his true self, but he answered with the practiced ease of someone who had learned to live with necessary lies.
The joining examination was almost insulting in its simplicity. Questions that once would have been beneath his notice now required careful consideration—not because he didn't know the answers, but because he needed to appear appropriately knowledgeable for a C-rank instructor without revealing the depths of his expertise.
When the results came back, he had been assigned C-rank teaching status. It was perfect. High enough to be respected by students, low enough to avoid suspicion from his colleagues.
The following morning, Alakshya stood before his first class in five years. Twenty eager faces looked back at him, representing various ranks from D to B, all hoping to improve their hunting capabilities.
"Good morning, students. My name is Alakshya, and I'll be your new combat instructor," he began, his voice steady despite the surreal nature of the situation. "I'm a C-rank hunter specializing in shadow-based techniques."
The students began introducing themselves one by one, showcasing abilities that ranged from elemental manipulation to enhanced physical prowess. There was Kira, a D-rank fire user with ambitious dreams; Marcus, a B-rank earth manipulator with a cocky attitude; and several others, each bringing their own unique energy to the classroom.
Then came the question he had been dreading.
"Teacher Alakshya," called out a sharp-eyed girl named Priya, "what exactly is your ability? You mentioned shadow techniques, but could you show us?"
The classroom fell silent. All eyes turned to him, filled with curiosity and expectation. Alakshya's mind raced, calculating the safest response.
"My ability allows me to create two to four weak shadow soldiers," he replied smoothly, raising his hand as wisps of darkness began to coalesce. "Nothing too impressive, but useful for demonstrating basic combat formations and tactics."
From within his shadow came a voice only he could hear: "Showing only one percent of your soldiers' power, master. Clever way to escape revealing your true strength."
It was then that the readers—would realize the truth. Alakshya hadn't been talking to himself at all. Rudra, the commander of his vast shadow army, had been his constant companion, hidden within the darkness that followed him everywhere.
"Now then," Alakshya continued, dismissing the weak shadow constructs with a wave, "let's see what each of you can do. We'll go around the room, and I want you to demonstrate your abilities safely."
The class proceeded smoothly, with each student showcasing their powers while Alakshya provided guidance that was far more insightful than any C-rank instructor should possess. His suggestions were subtle but profound, helping students optimize techniques they had struggled with for months.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Alakshya felt a strange mixture of satisfaction and melancholy. Teaching felt... right, somehow. Natural in a way that hunting never had, despite his legendary prowess.
He was walking across the campus courtyard, lost in thought, when raised voices caught his attention. Two B-rank students were squaring off near the training grounds, their magical auras flaring dangerously.
"You think you're so special just because you got promoted last month?" one of them snarled, lightning crackling around his fists.
"At least I earned my rank instead of buying it with daddy's connections!" the other shot back, ice forming along his arms.
Alakshya rushed toward them, his instincts overriding his desire to remain inconspicuous. "Stop this immediately! You're both—"
The lightning user turned and shoved Alakshya hard, sending him tumbling to the ground. "Stay out of this, weakling! This is between real hunters!"
The ice user sneered. "Yeah, what's a pathetic C-rank going to do about it? Go back to teaching basic theory to children!"
For a moment, Alakshya's eyes flashed with something dangerous. His shadow began to writhe and expand, responding to his rising anger. The temperature around them seemed to drop several degrees.
Then, before the situation could escalate further, a commanding voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"That's enough!"
An A-rank hunter materialized between the combatants, his presence immediately diffusing their magical auras. With swift, precise movements, he grabbed both students by their collars and delivered sharp strikes that left them gasping and humbled.
"Attacking a fellow hunter on school grounds? Fighting like common thugs?" the A-rank hunter's voice carried the authority of someone accustomed to command. "You'll both report to disciplinary committee tomorrow morning. Now get out of my sight before I decide to make this a formal challenge."
The two troublemakers fled without another word, their earlier bravado completely evaporated.
The A-rank hunter turned to Alakshya, extending a hand to help him up. "Are you alright? I apologize for those two—they've been problems since the day they enrolled."
Alakshya accepted the help, studying his rescuer with interest. The man possessed genuine strength and, more importantly, the kind of moral character that Alakshya had once hoped to embody as a Ruler.
This hunter has real integrity, Alakshya thought to himself. The kind of person who truly deserves the power he wields.
"I'm fine, thank you," Alakshya replied aloud. "I'm the new instructor—just started today, actually."
"Ah, welcome to our chaotic little academy then," the A-rank hunter grinned. "I'd love to chat more, but I'm already late for my advanced combat class. The students will have my head if I'm late again!"
With that, he sprinted toward the main building, his form quickly disappearing around a corner.
Alakshya stood alone in the courtyard, dusting off his clothes and watching the spot where his rescuer had vanished.
"I forgot to ask his name," he murmured to Rudra. "Well, perhaps next time we meet."
As the shadows grew longer with the approaching evening, Alakshya couldn't shake the feeling that his return to the hunting world would bring far more complications than he had anticipated. But for Vishu's sake, he would endure whatever came next.
After all, even a Shadow Ruler could learn to live in the light—at least for a little while.
To be continued...